It's December! Time to Smoke or Choke!!

OK, folks. . . preseason is over!

The next game the Cowboys play is on December 7th in Pittsburgh at 3:15 PM Central time. Did you catch that? I said "December". The Cowboys went into December last season at 11-1. They finished 13-3. And their one playoff game against a lesser ranked team, the Giants, wound up as a loss.

I've ranted for several years about how badly the Cowboys have played in December. I've said that until the Cowboys figure out how to win more games than they lose in their final five games of the regular season, they are bound for mediocrity. I, and others, have scratched our heads trying to figure out why the Cowboys continue to crater in December year after year. The only continuous common denominator between Cowboys teams of each year seems to be Jerry Jones. And we know there's nothing anyone can do about that except Jerry Jones himself. And I can't for the life of me figure out what in the cat hair Jerry Jones could possibly be doing that would cause the cratering. I honestly believe that no one wants the Cowboys to win more than Jerry Jones.

Yet they don't win.

I believed back during preseason that this Cowboys team had the best chance to get into the playoffs and actually win some games and possibly even make it to the Superbowl. I truly thought they had a legitimate chance. But here we are on the precipice, looking ahead at possibilities. And anyone not blinded by homerism surely can see there is more potential for bad things to occur than there is for good things to occur.

The Cowboys are 8-4. If they win these last four games, they finish 12-4. This would guarantee them a playoff spot. Their final four games are against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, the Giants at Texas stadium, the Colts at Texas Stadium and the Eagles in Philadelphia. Personally, I don't see any guaranteed wins in that lineup. Pittsburgh will be tough, especially if the weather becomes a factor. They're accustomed to playing in it. The Cowboys aren't. The Giants quite simply are the best team in the NFC at the moment. Yes, they can be beaten. No, it isn't easy, nor is it expected that the Cowboys will do it. The Colts are not going to lay down for the Cowboys either. They have aspirations of their own. And Philadelphia is always up for the Cowboys. That bitter rivalry generally brings out the best in play and the worst in sportsmanship of any team the Cowboys play. Even if the Eagles are out of playoff contention, maybe because the Eagles are out of playoff contention by that point, they will be looking to spoil the Cowboys' chances to make the playoffs.

If the Cowboys lose only one of those final four games, they finish 11-5 and, depending on which team they lose to and how other teams finish, the Cowboys could make it into the playoffs. But it's not a lock that they'll be in the playoffs at 11-5.

If the Cowboys lose two of those final games, they finish 10-6 and their playoff hopes are no longer in their hands. They do not control their own destiny any longer. While they can still make the playoffs, their chances are greatly reduced and depend on bad things happening to other teams.

If the Cowboys lose three of those final games, they finish 9-7 and there will be no playoff game this season that includes the Cowboys. And all hell breaks loose at Valley Ranch. Expect heads to roll, both coaches and players.

So, the Cowboys season now depends on how they play in December. And they're not playing against the Forty Niners and Seahawks of the world. They're playing against playoff contenders and/or bitter rivals. Anyone who thinks the Cowboys have a cakewalk into the playoffs is simply kidding oneself.

And don't talk to me about current winning streaks. Three games does not constitue a "winning streak" of any merit. Granted, it's better than losing three, but as I said earlier, the Cowboys had an 11-1 winning streak going into last December and screwed the pooch on that deal.

Injuries scare me the most this season. It's been a perpetual problem. Seeing Ware and Barber both with issues in the Seattle game had me on pins and needles. Quite simply, I don't know how the Cowboys would have survived the loss of those two players. Facing the schedule they have, the Cowboys need everyone healthy for every game.

Just for the record, I'm beginning to take a hard look at the conditioning staff on the Cowboys. If the Cowboys are simply worn out by the time December gets here, then it's time for a change. Other teams play through December and win more than lose. Their teams are in good enough condition to hang in there till the end of the season, and into the playoffs. Maybe Jerry Jones needs to look at this in depth.

OK, back on topic. It's December. The Cowboys have a chance. But it's an uphill climb against tough odds. Do they have what it takes to get the job done? I believe that if they go to Pittsburgh and win there, they have a chance. If they lose to Pittsburgh, I will be shocked to see them make the playoffs.

In the meantime, pull up a chair, stay close to the fire. It's December and we have perilous times ahead.